Cranberry Orange Muffins

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These cranberry orange muffins would make a nice breakfast treat this weekend. Use Greek yogurt to reduce or replace shortening, oil or butter. This cuts fat and makes muffins extra moist and tender.

CRANBERRY ORANGE MUFFINS

Serves 16

• 1 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup canola oil
• 2 tablespoons orange juice concentrate
• 2 tablespoons orange zest
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup flaxseed meal
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 ½ cups fresh or frozen cranberries

Heat the oven to 350 Fahrenheit. Lightly grease muffin tins or place a muffin cup liner in each tin.

In a mixing bowl, combine the yogurt, sugar, eggs, brown sugar, oil, orange juice, orange zest and vanilla. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, flaxseed, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Turn on mixer to low speed and slowly add the dry ingredients to the bowl of wet ingredients. Mix until just incorporated, about 1-2 minutes. Fold in cranberries with a spoon or spatula.

Scoop 1/4 cup of batter into each muffin well and bake for about 22 minutes or until the tops are golden brown and toothpick comes out clean when inserted.

Nutritional information per 1 muffin:

165 calories; 5 g total fat; 1 g saturated fat; 0 g transfat; 2 g monounsaturated fat; 24 mg cholesterol; 188 mg sodium; 27 g total carbohydrate; 1 g dietary fiber; 16 g total sugars; 4 g protein.

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These recipes are created by the executive wellness chef and registered dietitians at the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program.